clutch stuck in?

[glenc]

Any tips? Drove from Deal to Bromley on Saturday morning, first decent length trip in the TVR.
Got back in the car and there was no resistance on the clutch pedal. I could still put the car in gear so it is as if the clutch is stuck in.

[glenc]

ps. no fluid loss.

[tvrgit]

does the car drive like this, or does it go into gear but refuse to move when you let the clutch up?

[glenc]

no, the car won't drive because I can't let the clutch out. The pedal just flops about.

[tvrgit]

Right, it could be the master cylinder, the slave cylinder or the release arm.

You need to have a look at the release arm on the left hand side of the gearbox (ie the nearside on the car). You can see it best from underneath but you can just see it down the back of the bellhousing between the bulkhead and the exhaust manifold. If it's stuck in the "release" position (ie clutch arm pushed back) then either the slave cylinder piston is jammed, or the release arm has bent. Sometimes a stuck piston can be freed by a good thump on the side of the cylinder but the one on the S is tight between the gearbox and chassis and can only be reached by an octopus with a degree in gnaecology.

It could be that the master cylinder piston has jammed in - again a good thwack might free it. Or it might break it, don't blame me!

The only way to be sure, really, is to start disconnecting hydraulic pipes to diagnose what pistons are moving and what aren't, and then bleed the whole thing again once you fix the broken bit.

[GreenV8S]

If it's the master cylinder then when you crack open the bleed valve on the slave you'll gets tons of fluid out and the clutch will engage. (And the pedal will still be dangling uselessly at the bottom if its travel.)

[tvrgit]

yep - that's the first of the "disconnect pipey stylee" stuff I meant!

[clarenceboddiger]

If your really lucky (mind you if you were it wouldn't have broken)it has been known for the inner part of the flexible hose to collapse ,allowing fluid to go one way only,its rare but I have had it happen on a landrover.Its unlikely I know but worth a check if you cant find obvious cylinder problems.

[glenc]

Thanks for your tips guys. I will start my investigations and let you know how I get on.

[glenc]

I think it is the slave cylinder siezed.

[glenc]

It gets worse. Not only is the slave cylinder siezed the master cylinder is knackered as well.
Garage says it is through lack of use by the previous owner. Only had the car two weeks, is this what I can expect from
a supposedly unreliable make of car.

[GreenV8S]

No big deal. If one was knackered it makes sense to service the other too, anyway.

[clarenceboddiger]

Why not change the pipe as well ???,then you can forget about clutch hydraulics for the next few years. "Hapeth of Tar"

[tvrgit]

glenc said:

is this what I can expect from a supposedly unreliable make of car.

This is what you can expect from any make of car that hasn't been used regularly. Mine did 130 miles in the 2 years before I bought it (basically, one trip each year to MOT garage!) so I expected the same kind of problems. Apart from having to change the whole front braking system, it was fine. Mostly.

[glenc]

Car back on the road now after new master and slave cylinders.

[F908 Tim]

Don't tell me it went on the way down to Cass Bros for the window!!! Typical.

When you have been back behind the wheel again for a couple of weeks,you will have forgotten the problem and be grinning from ear to ear.
They do need using. mine is my only car and used daily. Completely reliable.

Hope you can make a Kent meet soon?

Tim

[glenc]

Yep. Clutch went at Cass Bros. You are right have been driving the car today and it is great.

[glenc]

Ken, Took your advice replaced the pipe.